This Viewing Platform Also Acts as a Playground
Vasiliki Marapas — July 24, 2014 — Art & Design
The Sweep is a community viewing platform conceived by architects Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin in the Tuanjie village of China's Yunnan Province.
The structure, which doubles as a play area, was designed as part of a larger initiative by the two architects. The Sweep is characterized by its fluid looping form that rises to offer views of the rice terraces in the surrounding valleys.
Sixty-five architecture students helped erect the structure in only six days. Because of its proximity to a nearby primary school, The Sweep functions as a meeting ground for parents, as well as a fun playground for the children. Ottevaere explains, "The demand from the village head and from the local school was to create a waiting and play area for parents and children that responded to the open landscape the site is facing."
The structure, which doubles as a play area, was designed as part of a larger initiative by the two architects. The Sweep is characterized by its fluid looping form that rises to offer views of the rice terraces in the surrounding valleys.
Sixty-five architecture students helped erect the structure in only six days. Because of its proximity to a nearby primary school, The Sweep functions as a meeting ground for parents, as well as a fun playground for the children. Ottevaere explains, "The demand from the village head and from the local school was to create a waiting and play area for parents and children that responded to the open landscape the site is facing."
Trend Themes
1. Multifunctional Structures - Innovative structures that serve multiple purposes such as play areas and meeting grounds, like The Sweep, provide new opportunities for architects and designers to incorporate sustainability and community-driven designs.
2. Community-centered Design - Community-centred designs that prioritize local needs and desires, as demonstrated by The Sweep, foster collaboration between architects, residents, and stakeholders, leading to sustainable solutions that benefit everyone involved.
3. Crowdsourced Construction - The use of crowdsourcing and community involvement in construction and design, as seen in the construction of The Sweep by sixty-five architecture students, can lead to faster and more cost-effective project completion, while also providing learning opportunities for participants.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - The architectural industry can embrace the opportunity to create designs that prioritize the needs and desires of communities and incorporate sustainable and multipurpose structures like The Sweep.
2. Education - Educational institutions can tap into the trend of crowdsourced construction and offer learning opportunities to students through involvement in community projects like The Sweep.
3. Playground Design - The playground design industry can innovate with multifunctional structures, like The Sweep, that provide exciting and interactive play areas while also serving as meeting grounds for communities.
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